Yes. As fiduciaries, we are legally and ethically required to act in your best interest. We do not earn commissions, sell our own products, or take payments or kickbacks from other companies. 100% of our revenue comes from clients paying fees for our advice.

We use a simple, fee-only model. You pay a percentage of assets in return for investment management, financial planning and tax strategy. There are no additional fees for these services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who do you typically work with?

Our clients are high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and executives who want long-term guidance on their financial plans and who seek out a forward-looking tax strategy.

Q: Is there a minimum to become a client?

We work with clients who have at least $2 million in investable assets but we are open to working with those who fall below the minimum when the plan suggests they are well on their way.

Q: How do I get started?

We begin with a simple conversation. We offer a free first meeting to understand your goals, review your current situation, and see how we can help.

Q: What is your investment philosophy?

We build long-term investment plans based on your goals. We believe equities are the most effective way to build wealth over time, while diversifying into other asset classes to manage risk and improve returns. We believe in long-term, disciplined investing. We do not guess or chase trends. We focus on data, cost control, and your personal goals.

Q: How do you handle capital gains when rebalancing?

We try to optimize trading to balance investment performance and capital gain management. Where applicable, we can apply tools to offset gains to give us more flexibility in managing a tenured portfolio rather than paying large tax expenses.

Q: How do you use asset location in portfolios?

We often place investments in accounts based on how they’re taxed. For example, we keep tax-heavy investments in IRAs and tax-friendly ones in taxable accounts.

About The Watchman Group

What makes The Watchman Group different from other wealth management firms?

We are fiduciaries at all times, not brokers or hybrid advisors. We are independent and employee-owned, with no outside investors, parent companies, or private equity partners. Most wealth managers focus mainly on investments. We go further. We build tax strategy into every financial plan and investment decision. We review your tax return, plan ahead, and coordinate taxes, planning, and investments together. That level of focus is rare and can make a real difference over time.

Are you a fiduciary?

Who do you typically work with?

How are you paid?

Is there a minimum to become a client?

How do I get started?

Investment Philosophy and Portfolio Management

Do you manage investments yourselves?

Yes. We build and manage portfolios based on your goals, risk level, tax situation, and time frame. We focus on keeping costs low, diversifying risk, and aiming for solid long-term investment results. Our investment policy members each have multiple decades of experience managing public and private investments.

What is your investment philosophy?

How do you handle capital gains when rebalancing?

How do you use asset location in portfolios?

Tax Strategy and Planning

How does The Watchman Group incorporate tax strategy into financial planning?

Since we focus on high-net-worth investors and not institutions, tax strategy plays a key role in every financial plan we build and every investment decision we make. Tax strategies differ from client to client, with certain strategies applying to different phases of life and varying by levels of wealth. We find that most people struggle to implement this on their own or even alongside their CPAs and value a proactive, forward-looking approach.

How do you invest in a tax-smart way?

We set up accounts and choose securities that are tax-efficient in taxable accounts, like ETFs or individual securities. We incorporate techniques such as tax-loss harvesting, applying smart asset location preferences, and carefully managing capital gains. For some clients, more sophisticated investment strategies are applied to accelerate the generation of capital losses or to create ordinary losses for high-income earners.

Do you review client tax returns?

Do you offer Roth conversion planning?

Can you reduce the taxes from Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)?

What tax planning do most advisors miss?

Many of the most missed planning ideas are actually simple. For example, Roth conversions can be helpful in the years after you retire but before Social Security or Required Minimum Distributions begin. Charitable planning is also often overlooked. Many people give cash, even though donating appreciated investments can be more tax-efficient. We also see trusts that were set up but never properly funded, which means they may not work as intended.

Advanced Planning and Coordination

Do you work with CPAs and estate attorneys?

Yes. We regularly work with your other advisors or bring in our trusted partners to make sure your taxes, estate plans, and investments work well together. As the wealth manager with regular contact throughout the year, we view our role as the quarterback of this team of advisors.

Do you help with selling a business?

Can you help with charitable giving?

Can you advise on donor-advised funds or charitable trusts?

How often do you meet with clients?